Maybe you don’t want to miss a single Asheville Beer Week happening. Maybe you want to plan a strategic approach to the dozens of events that culminate in Beer City Festival on Saturday, June 1. Maybe you simply enjoy the enticing smell of local print media. Whatever your reasons, be sure to pick up the […]

Last week CNN named Asheville one of the eight “Best Beer Towns.” It wasn’t for our beer history (which scored just 5 out of 10). Turns out, it was largely because of our events, which scored a 9 out of 10 — the highest of any city. So even though this is only the second […]

Author Charlie Papazian’s “Beer City USA” poll is back, and supporters of Asheville are battling it out against supporters of Grand Rapids, Mich. (with which Asheville shares the 2012 title). Vote now to help Asheville reign supreme!

A few weeks ago, you might have been talking to Chris Frosaker or Matt Kiger about your asthma inhaler. Or maybe your birth control. But starting in June, these two pharmacists will be dispensing something very different. Together with their friend and business partner Adam Charnack, they’re launching Hi-Wire Brewing. It all started shortly after […]

It’s easy to let brewery openings big and small grab your attention. Here in Asheville, we have a lot of that going on. But when Foothills Brewing made an announcement last week that it was taking the next step in its expansion, I had to read it twice: a 72 percent increase in capacity? Turns […]

When you mention an event in late March, college students usually think of spring break. Brewers on the other hand, their minds go to the Craft Brewers Conference — held this year in Washington, D.C. The event brings together about 5,000 brewing industry professionals, including folks from plenty of N.C. breweries: Highland, Catawba Valley, Nantahala, […]

What if Oskar Blues made a beer with papaya? What if Green Man served its IPA with a few extra ounces of Simcoe? And what if French Broad shoved Krispy Kreme donuts in its Anvil Porter? Now what if I told you there’s no “what if.” All of the beers above have recently been on […]

Three Seattle transplants are behind Burial Beer. They chose a scythe for the logo and their website has a lot of black. But when they open their doors in late April or early May, don’t expect loud metal music and surly bartenders. “If a group of bikers came in expecting that scene, they would probably […]

I was about to leave the Founders’ booth with my pour of Boltcutter when I ran into Dave Engbers, the co-founder of Founders. We talked for a few minutes about our mutual love of Asheville. Then we spotted two men dressed as women getting in line. “Beer festivals can get weird,” said Engbers.

Breweries aren’t the only big news this year. Asheville has a new beer writer. Our longtime Brews News columnist, Anne Fitten Glenn, departed last year to join Oskar Blues, and we’d like to introduce you to the new guy. Meet Thom O’Hearn, Beer Scout: The man who’s taking on the much-coveted beat. A Florida native, […]

Seasonal releases (yes, including Cold Mountain) I love the time in the beer year when breweries start releasing robust and spicy brews that go really well with long dark snuggly nights and hearty roast meats and potatoes. (If you don’t believe me, have yourself an Imperial Stout with a pile of mashed ‘taters and gravy. […]

Raise a pint in remembrance of Jay Stewart Jay Stewart did more than almost anyone to support Asheville’s craft beer pioneers, although it was mostly from behind the scenes. Stewart died on Sept. 17 after a long illness. A longtime Asheville real estate investor, Steward was a part owner of Highland Brewing Company and owned […]

Following the dog days of August, there always seems to be a surge of September energy. Kids go back to school, tomatoes burst on the vine and small businesses, including craft breweries, start gathering acorns for the winter. OK, they’re more likely to be gathering hops and malts and brewing loads of beer and cleaning […]